THE Transition Town Wellington group has had its latest bid for funding turned down by the town council.

The TTW had applied to Wellington Town Council for a £900 grant towards the costs of a repair café.

But councillors were less than impressed that the total cost for the project was £927 and the application was deferred at the council’s October meeting for further details.

Cllr John Thorne said: “There are some organisations in the town who think we are a soft touch. It appears that they want us to give them a £900 grant and they will put in the extra £27. It’s not our money it’s the taxpayers’ money and we need to make sure it is spent appropriately.”

The grant application was discussed again at the November town council meeting and it was turned down.

A repair café is a place where people can get together and repair household electrical and mechanical devices, computers, bicycles and clothing.

Cllr Vivienne Stock-Williams, speaking at the October meeting, said: “In principle it’s a good idea because it teaches people to recycle but I think the group is being a bit naïve towards fundraising.”

Cllr Andrew Govier added: “This could be a worthwhile project if it got off the ground. The principle is very good – people with skills working with those without skills.”

But Deputy Mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd said: “I do have reservations about a repair café on health and safety grounds. I wouldn’t want to read in the papers that someone has been electrocuted because they didn’t know what they were doing.”